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The orgigin
Airfoils were made so commonly that there was no identified creator. Although the first pattent of the Airfoil was a model made by H.F. Phillips. He himself is considered a pioneer of aviation after pattenting his model. -
Wright brothers create the plane
December 17, 1903. Orville and Wilbur Wright invent the first pwered glider in an attempt to make man fly. They use a double layered foil to propell themselves across a field in Kitty Hawk, NC. The foil used for the craft was double layerd, which was common at the time. A common misconception is that the double layers are always thin. That is actually false. Two layers were generally added to add density and weight to the foil itself. Back in the day, the pioneers did not have the same materials -
NACA is created
In 1915, the aerospace organization which is now known as NASA will take the reigns of flight. The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics was formed by inventors to get together and share ideas. -
Helicopter is invented
September 13, 1939. Igor Sikorsky invented the helicopter. This inevitably created the new, "symmetrical airfoils". The difference between the old airfoil and the symmetrical airfoil is the thickness between the two. If you were to cut a regular foil ito two, you could see that one side had a greater thickness. A symmetrical foil, on the other hand, has an equal thickness on both sides of the center line. The reason why the helicopter needs a symmetrical foil is because of the torque needed. -
Space flight (finally...)
We have finally reached space. The first shuttle design (THere have been space flights before this), The NARAM, Hit space with it's fairly odd design. It's foils were sleek, and the rudders were extremely loose. Such traits on earth would mean failure wouldn't it? Not really. If they kept it thick like the other foils, there would be less aerodynamics and it would slow down the plane. If they stiffened the rudders it would cause them (the rudders) to fly off when in re-entry.
